PART 9 — HOUSING AND SMALL BUILDINGSUpdated for the 2024 Ontario Building Code
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9.23.11.4.Joints in Top Plates
(1) Joints in the top plates of loadbearing walls shall be staggered not less than one stud spacing.
(2) The top plates in loadbearing walls shall be lapped or otherwise tied at corners and intersecting walls in accordance
with Sentence (4).
(3) Joints in single top plates used with loadbearing walls shall be tied in accordance with Sentence (4).
(4) Ties referred to in Sentences (2) and (3) shall be the equivalent of not less than 75 mm by 150 mm by 0.91 mm thick
galvanized steel nailed to each wall with at least three 63 mm nails.
(5) Where the seismic spectral acceleration, Sa(0.2), is greater than 0.70 but not more than 1.8, doubled top plates in
braced wall bands shall be fastened on each side of a splice with 76 mm long common steel wire nails or spiral nails in
accordance with Table 9.23.11.4.
Table 9.23.11.4.
Fasteners in Doubled Top Plate Splice Connections in Braced Wall Bands where 0.70 < S a(0.2) ≤ 1.8
Forming Part of Sentence 9.23.11.4.(5)
Minimum Number of Nails on Each Side of Doubled Top Plate Splice
Light Construction Heavy Construction(1)
Sa(0.2)
Number of Supported Floors(2)
0 1 2 0 1
0.70 < Sa(0.2) ≤ 0.80 2 5 8 3 8
0.80 < Sa(0.2) ≤ 0.90 2 5 8 4 8
0.90 < Sa(0.2) ≤ 1.0 3 6 10 4 10
1.0 < Sa(0.2) ≤ 1.1 3 7 11 5 11
1.1 < Sa(0.2) ≤ 1.2 3 7 11 5 12
1.2 < Sa(0.2) ≤ 1.3 3 8 12 5 12
1.3 < Sa(0.2) ≤ 1.35 4 8 12 5 13
1.35 < Sa(0.2) ≤ 1.8 4 8 13 5 13
Notes to Table 9.23.11.4.:
(1) See Note A-9.23.13.2.(1)(a)(i).
(2) All constructions include support of a roof load in addition to the number of floors indicated.
This provision includes a table — formatting is preserved from the source; refer to the official code for the authoritative layout.
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Code text is reproduced for reference from the Ontario Building Code (O. Reg. 163/24, 2024 Building Code Compendium). This page is provided for general information and is not an official copy. Always verify requirements against the official Ontario Building Code and confirm with your local building department.